One of the most important books on Australian underground rock is to be republished next month.
Stranded by Clinton Walker was first published back in 1996 and, subtitled Australian Independent Music 1976 - 1992 examines in intimate detail one of the most vibrant and fertile periods in world punk and post-punk history.
Something of a companion piece to Walker's seminal book Inner City Sound, published in 1981, Stranded casts an eye over the first stirring of Australia's independent scene built around such labels as Missing Link, Phantom, Au-Go-Go, Waterfront, Hot, Red Eye and Half-a-Cow and such musically and historically significant bands as THE SAINTS, RADIO BIRDMAN, BOYS NEXT DOOR/BIRTHDAY PARTY (pictured), GO-BETWEENS, X, VICTIMS, SPK, LIPSTICK KILLERS, SCIENTISTS, LAUGHING CLOWNS, SEVERED HEADS, MOODISTS, TRIFFIDS, CELIBATE RIFLES, HARD-ONS, DIED PRETTY, BEASTS OF BOURBON, NEW CHRISTS, GOD, RATCAT, SPIDERBAIT, YOU AM I, THE DIRTY 3 and many more...
One of Australia's most important rock writers, with unequalled insider access to the scene from day one and numerous insightful, incisive books and articles to his name, Walker has substantially expanded Stranded with new foreword and afterword, extensive and revealing footnotes that “now actually tell the whole truth!”, and many new illustrations.
Stranded: Australian Independent Music 1976-1992, Revised & Expanded Edition is set to be republished by The Visible Spectrum on 26 February.
Check out the Stranded Spotify playlist...
Pic by Kevin Blyth